4 Ways to Protect Your Identity and Personal Information

These are 4 simple ways to protect your identity and personal information from Medicare fraud, but they can be difficult to do if you’re caught off guard.

During Medicare Open Enrollment – between now and December 7 – you can expect to hear a lot about the choices, benefits, and lower costs you have when it comes to Medicare.

Open Enrollment is a great time for you to review and compare your Medicare choices and make you have the coverage that fits your needs. Unfortunately, it’s also a popular time for Medicare fraud schemes.

You’ll be hearing so much about Medicare during Open Enrollment, that it may not surprise you to get phone calls or visits to your house from people selling Medicare plans.

It’s illegal for someone to call and ask for your Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank or credit card information. A Medicare representative or a private insurance plan working with Medicare will never call and ask for this information, and we will never call you or come to your home uninvited to sell Medicare products. If a sales agent does call or visit you uninvited they are violating the Medicare marketing rules.

2. Be suspicious of people offering free medical equipment or services.

Anyone who offers you free medical equipment or services and then requests your Medicare number is tricking you – if it’s really free, they don’t need your Medicare number. It’s illegal, and it’s not worth it!

Medicare is stronger than ever, and we need your help to keep it that way. The health care law is doing a lot to help us fight Medicare fraud and make America stronger, safer, and healthier.

Want to help? You can get tips on protecting yourself from identity theft at stopmedicarefraud.gov. Learn more about spotting and reporting fraud, and learn about our Senior Medicare Patrol volunteers who are teaching people like you how to spot, report, and stop fraud, and protect themselves from identity theft.

Remember, a little preparation goes a long way. If you experience a Medicare fraud scheme – walk away, hang up, close the door, or say “no thanks.”